6 Big-Name Players You May Want to Avoid in Week 9

Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers

Philip Rivers has been a stud this year, no doubt. He's second in the league in Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) per drop back among relevant passers, only trailing Peyton Manning. He's already had four top-six weekly performances at quarterback and, in sum, has produced the fourth-most fantasy points at the position this season.

But he could have a tough time this week against the Dolphins in Miami. It's an early game for the Chargers, traveling east for a 1:00 PM start. But more importantly, it's not a cake matchup. Miami ranks third against the pass according to our schedule-adjusted metrics, and they've surrendered fewer than 20 total fantasy points (Jay Cutler and Blake Bortles) to quarterbacks over the last two weeks combined. In fact, only two passers who have faced Miami this season have ranked better than 21st at the position in weekly scoring.

I'd actually prefer Carson Palmer or Ryan Tannehill, perhaps off the wire, this week.